Boris Johnson to address nation as he describes Russian invasion as 'catastrophe for our continent

[Ponyclubkick]

Anyone finding the tone of this really quite terrifying...

I’m not one to get myself in a tizz over sensationalised news but this is starting to feel very different!

@Silverswirl i'm not agreeing with that poster was just making a point. A colleague has been invited for a MRI as part of a long term covid study so it was on my mind. Formerly very healthy but suffered badly. Anyway no more covid chat from me.

He knows full well that Russia would be blown to the other side of the universe if he did anything like that. I am not worried about that at all.

I'm not sure he cares though

I find it quite sad that my ds has said he's now grateful to have a physical disability because at least he won't be called to to fight

@ninnynonny

What does everyone think Putins threat about the retaliation being nothing like has even been seen before? What the hell is he planning?

I’m hoping it’s just trash talk like MMA fighters have before a fight 😞 I dread to think what exactly he means

I assuming he hopes to have a country to lead and indeed to survive himself.

@leopooh

He knows full well that Russia would be blown to the other side of the universe if he did anything like that. I am not worried about that at all.

I'm not sure he cares though

That’s the worrying part

[quote onlychildhamster]@leopooh in my home country (singapore), how to shoot, how to dig a trench, basic level of physical fitness (ability to complete 24 km route march with full gear and its compulsory to pass a physical fitness test every year until the age of 40- push-up, sit-up, chin-up, and 2.4 kilometres run), jungle warfare, how to survive in the wild, basic drills and also any other specialist training depending on vocation (infantry/navy etc etc). Also it is thought to build camaraderie between the different social classes/ethnic groups as you share a bunk with people from very different backgrounds and also train with them.

The UK doesn't need it thankfully. This is due to the EU and peace on the continent (until now). Its all very well to say that one is against conscription but its a luxury to have that viewpoint imho. A lot of smaller countries with unstable neighbors simply don't have that luxury. Look at poor Ukraine.[/quote]
How come very many of the richest in Singapore avoid national service of the kind you describe by virtue of being medically unfit. They seem to be able to spend some time in an office or stores stacking shirts and then return home each evening.

@RedToothBrush,

Maybe, but remember this isn’t 1980, the internet is here and Ukrainians and Russians have a long shared history.

I guess if the generals stay on side your ‘bullet in the head’ will hold.

Putin has been strange of late, though. Not seen for ages, rumoured to be terrified of Covid. And the long table, even with his own foreign minister.

He didn’t properly prepare the people for this war and, even if he wins, what will be the fruits of it?

Strange and scary times.

Putin is getting older, I think he wants to show his supporters/subjects that he’s still ‘in control’, like an old chimpanzees or alpha animal would do, controlling his subjects with extra aggression.

@onlychildhamster thats interesting thanks for the info. I definitely think they are useful skills to learn. I'm against conscription in the context Ive seen on MNs today.

*chimpanzee, even

Putin is an intelligent man, he means something. Unless he has gone full Henry VIII

That’s the worrying part

absolutely

Putin is not an intelligent man, he is lots of things a great manipulator, strategist possibly but intelligence is not his strong point. He is on the lower end of the IQ spectrum and has limited ideas outside of his own sphere.

From what I can see perhaps with the covid lockdowns, he has become very insular, mistrustful and paranoid seemingly not even trusting even his closest aides. He is mentally unwell, to what extent it is hard to tell. It looks like he is being eaten alive by his own demons to me.

@jgw1 I am not sure where you heard but even the Prime minister's son went to national service. In fact, he signed onto the army. I only know of 2 people who skipped on NS- one had cancer at age 18 and the other was legally blind. If i have a child and he chooses singaporean citizenship, he would be imprisoned if he doesn't serve national service. the author of crazy rich asians is in that predicament which is why he can't openly return to singapore.

I know one guy who got lucky in his national service posting and landed a desk job at the ministry of home affairs. That was the only one i heard tbh. But he still went through basic military training for 3 years. There are plenty of people who try. Even if you are technically a musician in the army band, there is still some strenuous physical activity involved- marching while holding your instruments. Of course, there are people with injuries who end up with desk jobs; my ex boyfriend was in a desk job for half the time as he was injured. I have a cousin who ended up in a desk job too as he was found during physical tests to have a heart condition that meant he could die when undergoing strenuous physical activity; he was otherwise very healthy, played soccer all day long but I guess the army doesn't want to be liable for any unnecessary risks.

@jgw1 sorry typo* 3 months, not 3 years!

National service is only from age 18 to age 20- 1 year and 8 months for most. and then reservist training every year until age 40 (or 50 for officers). My dad was a captain and was only discharged early due to health problems.

@Keepyourheadscrewedon Putin is not an intelligent man, he is lots of things a great manipulator, strategist possibly but intelligence is not his strong point. He is on the lower end of the IQ spectrum

Do you have a reference for Putin having a sub 100 IQ?

@AutomaticMoon

Putin is getting older, I think he wants to show his supporters/subjects that he’s still ‘in control’, like an old chimpanzees or alpha animal would do, controlling his subjects with extra aggression.

He's had unrest at home.

Theres nothing like a foreign policy to distract from the ills of your domestic one.

Scroundels and patronism springs to mind.

Putin has been strange of late, though. Not seen for ages, rumoured to be terrified of Covid. And the long table, even with his own foreign minister

Theres been rumours about his health. I think it was brain related. Could well be nothing but propaganda, but that would stick with some and even planting the suggestion is going to hurt his reputation as a hard man.

On the flip though, there is always the notion of a man with little to lose.

Dictators ultimately want two things though. The feeling of power and control and the concept of having left a legacy that future generations will revere. Immortality in a sense.

Cyberstrikes.

[quote onlychildhamster]@jgw1 I am not sure where you heard but even the Prime minister's son went to national service. In fact, he signed onto the army. I only know of 2 people who skipped on NS- one had cancer at age 18 and the other was legally blind. If i have a child and he chooses singaporean citizenship, he would be imprisoned if he doesn't serve national service. the author of crazy rich asians is in that predicament which is why he can't openly return to singapore.

I know one guy who got lucky in his national service posting and landed a desk job at the ministry of home affairs. That was the only one i heard tbh. But he still went through basic military training for 3 years. There are plenty of people who try. Even if you are technically a musician in the army band, there is still some strenuous physical activity involved- marching while holding your instruments. Of course, there are people with injuries who end up with desk jobs; my ex boyfriend was in a desk job for half the time as he was injured. I have a cousin who ended up in a desk job too as he was found during physical tests to have a heart condition that meant he could die when undergoing strenuous physical activity; he was otherwise very healthy, played soccer all day long but I guess the army doesn't want to be liable for any unnecessary risks.[/quote]
I know from talking to Singaporeans who do NS and for many it is nothing like you describe.

[quote Postdatedpandemic]**@Keepyourheadscrewedon* Putin is not an intelligent man, he is lots of things a great manipulator, strategist possibly but intelligence is not his strong point. He is on the lower end of the IQ spectrum *

Do you have a reference for Putin having a sub 100 IQ?[/quote]
He is not as bigly cleaver as Trump that is for sure.

He is not as bigly cleaver as Trump that is for sure.

Nah, but google thinks he hits 127 - 130 which is not the lower end of the scale.

@Lottapianos

He can absolutely fuck right off. It's a bit late for him to be hand wringing about 'our continent', as if he gives a shit about anything other than himself. It's just an opportunity for him to do his Big Important Statesman act

Or probably thank our lucky stars we don't have the anti-west kremlin apologist Corbyn and his cronies in charge!!

Bravery

Pushkin Square, maybe less than 1000 meters from Red Square and the Kremlin, is the cite of a significant protest. These people know the risks of challenging the regime. They’re on the street in-spite of major personal costs.

twitter.com/AVindman/status/1496900368344797184?t=yb_8Tghs4ozbnDNEBYTYgQ&s=19

Or probably thank our lucky stars we don't have the anti-west kremlin apologist Corbyn and his cronies in charge!!

@Georgeskitchen could you mention Keir's beer as well and then my bingo card is complete for this thread.